Delhi court awards life imprisonment to a person for repeatedly raping, impregnating his minor stepdaughter

New Delhi: A city court has sentenced a 33-year-old man to rigorous life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life for repeatedly raping and impregnating his minor stepdaughter in 2019, saying it is not only legally punishable but is morally repugnant also and that illiteracy cannot be considered as a mitigating factor in incest cases.

Stepfather was last month convicted for rape, aggravated penetrative sexual assault

Additional Sessions Judge Babita Puniya, while pronouncing the sentencing, said that “the nature of the crime and society’s interest in protecting vulnerable children from horrendous experiences warrants a severe sentence”.

The stepfather was earlier last month convicted for rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Illiteracy cannot be considered as a mitigating factor, particularly in incest cases: Court

The court rejected the argument of the convict’s counsel that he was illiterate and said that “illiteracy cannot be considered as a mitigating factor, particularly in incest cases. It is not only legally punishable but is morally repugnant also.”

The court said that the diabolical nature of the crime committed by the convict and the fact that the victim was his stepdaughter and was in his care and protection outweighed the personal circumstances of the convict, including his age.

“The interest of justice demands that the severest punishment must be imposed. The convict has failed dismally to show the existence of substantial and compelling reasons for taking a lenient view,” the court said.

Court underlined various aggravating factors in case

The court, while underlining the various aggravating factors in the case, including the minor victim being an innocent and helpless child who became pregnant and had to undergo an abortion at around 16 years of age, said that the offence was committed by a stepfather, who was in a position of trust, against his innocent, defenceless old girl child is aggravating the offence.

“The convict has preyed upon an innocent and vulnerable girl child to quench his covetousness and selfish needs. He repeatedly made the victim object of his lust and made her pregnant. I have no doubt in my mind that this must have been an excruciating pain that the victim or child endured,” the court said.